Archive for the ‘Blue Angels’ Category

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) — A pilot and a support officer for the Navy’s elite Blue Angels aerial demonstration have been found guilty of having an inappropriate relationship.

The Marine pilot and the Navy officer were sentenced Friday morning in an administrative disciplinary hearing at the Naval Air Training Command in Corpus Christi, Texas. The Navy is not releasing the officers’ names or their punishments because it says the information is protected under privacy regulations.

Blue Angels Commander Capt. Kevin Mannix removed both officers from the team last week. Since the announcement, a six-member demonstration has performed without its Number Four jet, flown by Marine Major Clint Harris.

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As In Combat: Flight Crews Carry On

More than 10,000 people showed up at Kennedy Space Center to watch the Blue Angels Saturday. The Space and Air Show quickly sold out and caused Traffic problems in the area.

Viewers told Channel 9 they waited in traffic for hours before reaching the KSC Visitors Complex. Once there, some were turned away even though they had purchased tickets in advance. According to a KSC spokesperson, there was simply not enough room for everyone.

When a pilot crashes with his aircraft, the reasons can take months and even years to determine. When man fails without his machine, the history of mankind tells us the reasons swiftly sometimes….

By Lindsay Kastner
San Antonio Press – News

An afternoon performance by the Navy’s Blue Angels was a crowd-pleaser even though the six-jet squadron flew only five planes Saturday, after two team members were removed from duty last week.

The team members, including one pilot, were removed from duty Oct. 26 after allegations of an inappropriate relationship, Blue Angels spokesman Marine Capt. Tyson Dunkelberger confirmed.

Several spectators at the AirFest 2008, part of a weeklong San Antonio salute to the military, said they noticed the show was down a plane, but were unfazed by the absence. Jet number four was clearly missing from the team’s formations.

Mario and Sylvia Perez said they loved Saturday’s show despite the missing plane.

Chuck Pollack also noted the vacancy on the team, but wondered if it was combat-related.

“I thought it was perfect the way they were flying,” said Pollack, who last saw the Blue Angels perform four or five years ago.

With just five jets, some formations were changed — for instance the jets flew in a letter V shape instead of their hallmark diamond or delta formation, Dunkleberger said. There are no backup pilots who can step in when one of the Blue Angels is unable to fly, according to the team’s website.

The Blue Angels also flew what is called a “low show” instead of their preferred “high show” Saturday, which limits some maneuvers the pilots can perform. But Dunkleberger said that was a safety decision that had nothing to do with the removal of the two team members.

“The low show was just due to the cloud level today,” he said.

Dunkelberger said the team commonly practices with fewer than six planes and is ready to perform without its full complement of jets.

“That was pretty good, fun, air show as far as I was concerned,” he said, of the demonstration.

Many in the crowd agreed.

“It was super,” said spectator Larry Priest. “They put on an awesome show. It wouldn’t make any difference if they had three planes.”

Dunkelberger would not release the names of the individuals — a male and a female — who are no longer participating in team duties.

“It’s a privacy thing for those individuals,” he said. “It’s administrative in nature, not judicial.”

In addition to flying, the Blue Angels visit schools and hospitals as they tour.

“We have additional people that can fill those roles,” Dunkelberger said, noting that the team also includes C-135 pilots who step in when jet pilots aren’t available.

He said he did not know how long the members might be off the team, saying that has not been determined yet.

“They’ve basically just been relieved of their duties at this point.”

The Blue Angels perform again today at Lackland AFB’s Kelly Field Annex, where AirFest 2008 continues. Their 2008 season ends Nov. 15 after shows at the Kennedy Space Center and at their home base in Pensacola, Fla.

The Blue Angels will fly today, one day after it was made public that two team members were removed from duty because of an alleged inappropriate relationship.
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The Blues fly in San Antonio today and Sunday.

On Thursday, the Blue Angels announced that the removal of the team members would force the squadron to fly five jets instead of the standard six jets for the rest of the season, which concludes Nov. 14-15 at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

No new details were released Friday, and the team members’ names have not been made public.

The allegations involve a male and a female team member. The Military Times reported Thursday that one of the individuals is a pilot.

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A spokesman for the U.S. Navy Blue Angels says the stunt-flying team will be down one jet the rest of its season after removing two members from duty for having an inappropriate relationship.

Capt. Tyson Dunkelberger, a spokesman for the team based at Naval Air Station Pensacola, said Thursday the squadron will finish its last three air shows next month with five jets.

Dunkelberger would not identify the two members but said the relationship was between a man and a woman. All six of the F-18 stunt pilots are men, and 23 of the 133-member squadron are women.

Dunkelberger says a military administrative hearing will be held to determine further disciplinary actions, which could include removal from the military.

John McCain’s Naval career is most defined by his commitment to service.

Following a near-death experience aboard the USS Forrestal in July of 1967, just a few months after being deployed to Vietnam, the then-Lieutenant Commander’s plane was hit by a missile. After the crash, McCain was taken as a prisoner of war for more than five and a half years.USS Forrestal

But prior to his deployment, the presidential candidate spent some time at NAS Meridian as a flight instructor.

“They were some great years,” McCain said. “I really learned to fly here. When you teach flying is when really learn to fly. I enjoyed being an instructor here.”

McCain’s connection with NAS Meridian doesn’t end with his time spent there. In 1961, when the air station was commissioned, the operations area was named McCain Field after the late Admiral John S. McCain — the grandfather of the Arizona senator.

“My grandfather was one of the early Naval aviators,” McCain said. “He was in World War II. Our family is a Mississippi family — our roots are here — so it’s a great experience to be back.”

McCain knows first-hand how much Meridian supports the military, something which he credits with keeping the base open during several rounds of base closing commissions.

He arrived at NAS Meridian Sunday in time to catch part of the Blue Angels show in between hand shakes. The Blues are known as the best of the best, and McCain says they represent the Navy well.

“I’m very proud of these young people that are serving,” McCain said. “They are turning out the highest quality product and the best pilots in the world. They, and our Air Force pilots are the best in the world.”

The U.S. Navy’s flight exhibition squadron, the Blue Angels, is a rare treat to behold. They are a fine example of the precision, discipline, and sheer guts exhibited by our military. Spectators are able to see the fine skills of the Blue Angels when they fly in to cities and towns across America and in some parts of the world to do air shows. Growing up in the military as a Navy brat, I attended many air shows where the Blue Angels performed. They are inspiring!

The Blue Angels are representative of the U.S. Navy, but they are a HUGE credit to our military as a whole. They are the best exhibition team in the world…who else could fly 36 inches apart wingtip to wingtip? They exhibit VERY impressive and outrageous (in a good sense) flying skills.